Garage Door Gervais
Garage doors are convenient, but they're also one of the heaviest and most powerful moving objects in your home. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, garage doors cause tens of thousands of injuries each year. Understanding and implementing proper safety measures can protect your family from accidents. Here's what every homeowner needs to know about garage door safety.
Understanding the Dangers
Modern garage doors can weigh anywhere from 150 to 400 pounds or more. They're powered by springs under tremendous tension and electric motors with significant force. The combination of weight, moving parts, and automation creates several potential hazards including crushing injuries from doors closing on people or objects, cuts and pinches from moving parts, spring failures that can cause violent reactions, and electrical hazards from faulty wiring or openers.
Essential Safety Features
Since 1993, all garage door openers sold in the United States are required to have auto-reverse mechanisms. There are two types: mechanical auto-reverse activates when the door contacts an object during closing and immediately reverses direction, while photoelectric sensors use an invisible beam across the door opening and if broken while the door is closing the door automatically reverses.
Test these features monthly by placing a roll of paper towels or a piece of wood in the door's path. If the door doesn't reverse upon contact or beam interruption, the system needs immediate attention.
Safety Practices for Families
Education is the first line of defense. Teach children that the garage door is not a toy and they should never stand, walk, or play under a moving door. Explain that they should never try to race the door or touch the moving parts, and show them where the wall button is but explain it's only for adult use.
Keep the remote control out of reach of children. Modern wall buttons are designed to be mounted at least five feet from the floor to keep them away from small children. Consider a keypad entry system instead of giving children remote controls.
Never leave a garage door partially open. It may seem convenient, but a partially open door can suddenly close or allow unwanted access. Additionally, the balance of a partially open door is different than fully open, potentially straining the system.
Make sure the garage is well-lit and keep the area around the door clear of toys, tools, and other items that could cause trips or interfere with the door's operation.
Maintenance for Safety
Regular maintenance is crucial for safe operation. Monthly visual inspections should include checking springs, cables, rollers, and other hardware for signs of wear. Look for frayed cables, gaps in springs, or worn rollers. Never attempt to repair or adjust springs yourself as the tension in these components makes them extremely dangerous to work with.
Keep all moving parts lubricated according to manufacturer recommendations. Squeaky, slow, or stiff operation often indicates a need for lubrication or professional adjustment.
Test the door's balance every few months. Disconnect the opener and manually lift the door halfway. A properly balanced door should stay in place. If it falls or rises, the springs need adjustment by a professional.
When to Call a Professional
Call a professional immediately if you notice unusual noises during operation, the door is slow or uneven, the door doesn't reverse when it should, you see visible damage to any components, or the door is difficult to operate manually.
At Garage Door Gervais, we offer safety inspections as part of our maintenance services. Our technicians can identify potential hazards before they become dangerous and ensure your door's safety features are working properly. Don't take chances with your family's safety.contact us if you have any concerns about your garage door's operation.